Truck elevator utilizing parallel motion



W. H. HEISE TRUCK ELEVATOR UTILIZING PARALLELMOTION March s ,1927. 1,620,256

Filed March 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1927. March w. H. HEISE 'mucx ELEVATOR UTILIZING PARALLEL MOTION Filed March 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :59 g 1 I A T012 ATTOE EY;

I Fig. 1 but this view shows the elevator plat- Patente'tl Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. HEISE, 0] LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TRUCK ELEVATOR UTILIZING PARALLEL MOTION;

Application 'flled. March 20, 1926. Serial No. 96,108.

My invention relates to trucking vehicles and relates more particularly to a trucking vehicle in which there is incorporated an elevator construction whereby objects may be raised or lowered from the bottom thereof.

Trucking vehicles very often carry' heavy objects which cannot be placed thereon and removed therefrom manually. Many establishments to which objects are delivered to and received from do not have apparatus such. as a block and tackle whereby these heavy objects may be removed from and placed onto thetruck. It is often necessarv for the trucking vehicles to carry skids or the like with them so .that these heavy objects may be handled with a minimum of labor. The use of skids or the like, however, does not eliminate a great deal of the manual effort and very often objects are too massive and too heavy to be handled by such means.

It is an object of my invention to provide a novel form of elevator construction which may be incorporated in a trucking vehicle and whereby extremely heavy articles which cannot be handled manually or conveniently by skids may be removed from or placed on the trucking vehicle.

It is another object of my invention to.

provide a truck elevator of thischaracter "which is extremely smooth in operation and which may be manually actuated with but a minimum of labor.

, It is a further object of this invention to provide a truck elevator of the character mentioned in which a parallel link mechanism is included through which the truck elevator is moved vertically between raised and lowered position without any swinging of the platform from a horizontal position.

Fi 5 is a fra enta section taken on the fine 5-5 of 1. ry

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of 1. 4

Re 'erring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inelusive of the drawings, 11 denotes a truckmg vehicle which is of any standard construction having a bottom 12 from which sides 13 extend in an upward direction. Secured at the extreme rear ends of the sides 13 is a pair of vertical bearings 15, one of each being secured to an outer face of each side 13. Referringto' Fig." 4, the bearings 15 have flanges 16 extending therefrom which contact the outer faces of thesides 13 and through which bolts 17 extend for securing them in place. The bearings 15 have vertically extending journals 18 which are placed in alignment with respect to a'transverse plane of the trucking vehicle 11. The bearings 15 are provided with vertical slots 20 attheir rear parts.

Extending through the bearings 15 are posts 22 which are of substantially cylindrical cross section. The lower ends of the posts 22 are provided with lugs 23 in which trunnions 24 of a horizontal elevator platform 26 journal. The platform 26 issupported in horizontal position by means of chains 27, the "lower ends of which are connected at the outer ends 'of straps 28 of the platform 26 and the upper ends of which are connected to brackets 30 which are secured to the extreme upper ends of the posts 22 by bolts 31.

' Secured to the outer faces of the sides 13 are guides 35, these guides 35 being located in a horizontal plane. The guides 35'may be of any suitable form, those shown being in the form.- of an H-bar. Bolts 36 extend Other "objects and the particular advanthrough flanges 37 of the guides '35 for sethe drawings in which I this form in lowered position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentarvsection taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1. 1

having an elevator of my innuts 47.

curing them to the sides13. The outer legs (if the guides 35'are provided in the form of tracks 39.

Adapted blocks 41.

to slide on the tracks 39 are As shown clearly in Fig. 5, the

blocks 41 are provided with T slots 42' through which the tracks 39 extend; Projecting outwardly from the blocks 41 are stub shafts 43 on which rearward ends of primary arallel links 44 are ivotally secured by olts 45. The forward ends of the primary parallel links 44 are pivoted on stub shafts 46 which extend from the lower ends of the posts 22, being secured in place by [Forward ends of secondary parallel links 50 are pivotally secured on trunnions 51 which extend from the centers of the primary parallel links 44 by means of nuts 53. The rearward ends of the secondary parallel links 50 are pivotally secured on trunnions 54 which extend outwardly from the bearings 15, being secured thereon by nuts 55. It should be noted from Figs. 1 and 2 that the trunnions 54 are situated in the same horizontal plane as the stub shaft 43. It should also be noted that the distance between the trunnion 51 and the trunnion 54 is the same as the distance between the trunnion 51 and the stub shaft 46.

Connected to the blocks 41 are flexible members in the form of wire ropes 57 which extend forwardly and are extended on conical drums 58. The conical drums 58 are provided with helical conical grooves 59 in which the wire ropes 57 may be wound. The conical drums 58 are secured to a cross shaft 61 which is rotatably supported by bearings 62. As noted in Fig. 6 the shaft 61 exten s entirely across the vehicle 11 and may extend very close to the back wall of the cabin 63 thereof.

The shaft 61 may be rotated b means of a worm wheel 64 which is engage and turned by a worm 65, the worm 65 being secured on a shaft 66. The shaft 66 inclines upwardly from the rear end thereof, the rear end being supportedby a bearing bracket 67 and the forward end thereof being supported by a bearing 68. A hand-wheel 69 is attached at the forward upper end of the shaft 66 whereby the shaft 66 may be rotated in order to operate the shaft 61. It should be noted from the drawings that the handwheel 69 is situated adjacent to the vehicledrivers seat and may be operated therefrom.

The operation of my invention is substantially as follows:

When the vehicle 11 is travelingfrom one place to another, the platform 28, since it is pivoted, may be swung into a pos1t1on indicated by dotted lines 71 shown in Flg. 1, and into such a position that it serves as a tail-gate forthe vehicle. In fact, in constructing the device the elevator platform 28 may usually be made from the tail-gate of the truck in which the elevator is to be incorporated. When the place is reached where the objects are to be left, the elevator 28 is swung from dotted line position 71 into horizontal position 28, being retained in this position by chains 27. The objects to be lowered from the truck are then moved rearwardly from the body of the truck onto the elevator platform 28. The platform 28 is then lowered 'from raised position, as

shown in Fig. 1, into lowered position, as shown in Fig. 2. This is accomplished by o crating the hand-wheel 69, an operation of which rotates the shaft 61 and unwmds the wire ropes 57 from the conical drums 58. The welght on the platform 28 is transferred through the primary links 44 and a rearward pul is exerted on the blocks 41 and istransferred to the drums 58 through the wire ropes 57. Therefore, when the drums are operated to unwind the wire ropes 57 therefrom the slack is immediately taken up slnce there is a tension placed thereon because of the Weight on the platform 28, and the blocks 41 will move rearwardly. As the blocks 41 move rearwardly, the rearward ends of the primary links 44 move downwardly until the platform 28 reaches the ground, such as shown in Fig. 2. \Vhen the osts 22 move to lowered position the rackets 30 move into the slots 20. The parallel link mechanism which consists of the primary and secondary parallel links 44 and 50 maintains the lower ends of the posts 22 in the same vertical extending planes, and there is no sideward movement either in the platform or the posts 22. The platform 281s raised by merely operating the operating wheel 69 in an opposite direction which winds the wire ropes 57 on the drums 58. It is very obvious from Fig. 1 that during the first part of the rearward travel of the blocks 52 the rear ends of the primary parallel links 44'move downwardly very rapidly as compared with the rearward movement of the blocks 41, and that during the last part of the rearward movement of the blocks 41 the vertical movement of the rear ends of the primary parallel links 44 is quite small. In order to make the vertical movement of the platform 28 somewhat uniform I provide the drums 58 with the helical conical grooves 59 in which the wire ropes 57 are wound. This tends to make the lowering and raising of the platform 28 somewhat uniform. Also, it rovides more leverage on the blocks 41 w en the elevator is in lowered position, at which time it-is desirable to have this additional power.

The device of my invention is extremely simple in construction as is very obvious from the drawings. It is so designed that it can be readily incorporated on any trucking vehicle with a minimum of expense. The parallel link mechanism is very important to the invention since it provides a very simple means whereby the platform 28 may be raised and lowered, and provides a means through which a very even movement may be obtained. The arallel link mechanism is also very desirab e since it maintains the post 22 absolutely in vertical extension and prevents any sideward movement in the platform 28.

I claim as my invention:

-1. In combination: a structure forming part of a vehicle; a horizontal platform; means for attaching said platform to said structure so that said 'part of a vehicle;

. slide vertically in platform may be moved between raised and lowered position; a guide supported by said structure; a block adapted to slide along said guide; means whereby said blockmay be moved. along said guide; and parallel motion mechanism connected to said block and to said platform whereby said platform is moved when said block is moved without swinging it' from horizontal position. 1

2. In combination: a structure forming part of a vehicle; a horizontal; platform; means for attaching said platformto said structure so that said platform may be moved between raised and lowere position; a guide supported by said structure; a block adapted to slide along said guide;- -means whereby said block may be movpd along said guide; a primal link connected to said block and to said platforni; and. a secondary link connected to said primary link and said structure, said primary and secondary members being so arranged as to move said platform without swinging it from horizontal position when said block is moved.

3. In combination: a structure forming part of a vehicle; vertical bearings attached to said structure; posts adapted to slide vertically in said bearings; a horizontal platform attached to said posts, said platform being capable of movement into a vertical position so that same may serve as a tail-gate; and mechanism including a parallel link device for moving said platform without swinging it from horizontal position.

4. In combination: a structure forming vertical bearings attached to said structure; posts adapted to said bearings; a horizontal platform attached to said posts, said platform being capable of movement into a vertical position so that same may serve as a tail-gate; a guide supported by said structure; a block adapted to slide along said guide; means wherebysaid block may be moved along said guide; and paralle motion mechanism connected to said block and to said platform whereby said platform is moved when said block is moved without swinging it from horizontal position.

5. In combination: a structure forming part of a vehicle; vertical bearings attach to said structure; posts adapted to slide vertically in said bearin s; a horizontal platform attached to sai posts, said platform being capable of movement position so that same may serve as a tailgate; a guide supported by said structure; a block a apted .to slide' along said guide; means whereby said block may be moved along said guide; a primary link connected into a vertica 1 tal to said block and to said platform; and a secondary link connected to said primary link and said structure, said primary and secondary members being so arranged as to move said platform Without swinging it from horizontal position when said block is moved.

6. In combination: a structure forming part of a vehicle; vertical bearings attached to said structure; osts adapted to slide vertically in said arings; a horizontal platform attached to said posts; and mechanism including a parallel link device for moving said platform without swinging it from horizontal position.

7. In combination: a structure forming part of vehicle; vertical bearings attached to said structure; posts adapted to slide vertically in said bearings; a horizontal platform attached to said'posts; a guide'supported by said structure; a block ada ted to slide along said guide; means where y said block, may be moved along said guide; a primar link connected to said block and to said p atform; and a secondary link connected to said primary link and said structure, said primary and secondary members being so arranged as to move said platform without swinging it from horizontal position when said block is moved.

8. In combination: a structure forming part of a vehicle;- a horizontal platform; means for attaching said platform to said structure so that said platform may be moved between raised and lower position; a horizontal guide supported by said structure; a block adapted to slide along said guide; means whereby said block may be moved along said guide; and parallel motion mechanism connected to said block and to said latform whereby said platform is move when said block is moved without swinging it from horizontal position.

9. In combination: a structure forming part of a vehicle; vertical bearings attached to said structure; posts adapted to slide vertically in said bearings; a horizonplat orm being capable of movement into a vertical position so that same may serve as a tail-gate; a horizontal guide supported by said structure; a block adapted to slide along said guide; means whereby d said block may be moved along said guide;

and parallel motion mechanism connected to said block and to said platform whereby said platform 1s moved when said block is 1 moved without swinging it from horizontal.

position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 13th day of March, 1926. I

WILLIAM H. HEISE.

latform attached to said posts, said 

